Madalitso Band
DIY Transe Malawi
"Forget The White Stripes and their Seven Nation Army, and lock into the two-man musical army that is the Madalitso Band from Malawi, you will not be disappointed."
Folk Radio UK
Madalitso band are a two man musical army from Malawi. Described as ‘Uplifting and Vibrant’ by the BBC, they get a crowd to their feet and big smiling. Since they were discovered busking outside a shopping centre in 2009, the band has already performed at Womex, Womad, Roskilde, Sauti Za Busara, Sziget, MNT Bushfire, and many more all over the world, from the confines of Africa to the USA and almost everywhere in Europe. Also, their album are now produced by the famous swiss label Bongo Joe records. On stage, the band plays the babatone, a home-made instrument which is very popular in their country and a kind of four-string guitar as the malawian banjo, creating the traditional Malawi banjo sound. Around Malawi they are revered as musical prophets and take their audience by storm everywhere they play, whether on a beach, on a churh, on a village square or on the stage of a huge open air festival, definitly as an off-road band.
New single "Ma Gitala"
For their third album on Bongo Joe, Madalitso Band takes a new direction. After two records capturing the raw intensity of their live performances, the Malawian duo ventures for the first time into the possibilities of the studio — without ever compromising their signature style or energy. Armed with their handmade babatone, a guitar, and their interwoven voices, Yobu and Yosefe craft a sound at the crossroads of banjo music, kwela, gospel, and African folk. An acoustic trance that’s both minimal and vibrant, deeply rooted in tradition yet undeniably fresh and contemporary. On Ma Gitala, they add new textures: layered vocals, playful percussion, melodic surprises, and guests from their close and family circles.
Always guided by instinct, the band reveals a more intimate and narrative side of their universe — full of memories, spontaneity, and close-knit complicity. An album that captures the joy and creativity of two artists who turned the street into a stage, and the stage into a playground.
news
New album to be released by Bongo Joe Records in June 2025
Showcase for Womex in Manchester on october 2024
highlights
Womex, Womad, Roskilde, Sziget, Les Suds à Arles, Aux Heures d'été, Convivencia, Fusion Festival, FMM Sinès, Sfinks Mixed, Jazz à Vienne, MNT Bushfire, Festival des 5 Continents, Pod'Ring Festival, le 104, Guinguette Chez Alriq Bordeaux, Palp Festival, Cosmojazz, Shambala, Joshua Trre Music Festival, Acces Conference, Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, ...
tour 2025
29.05 Access Studio Rouen (FR/50)
30.05 Jazz Sous Les Pommiers Coutance (FR/50)
31.05 Jazz Sous Les Pommiers Coutance (FR/50)
04.06 La Rodia Besançon (FR/25)
06.06 Le Fil Saint-Etienne (FR/42)
07.06 Cinema City Club Pully (CH)
08.06 Bongo Joe Shop Genève (CH)
15.06 Respect Festival Pragues (CZ)
26.06 Sanafest Hølen (NO)
27.06 Glastonbury Festival (UK)
28.06 Glastonbury Festival (UK)
29.06 Glastonbury Festival (UK)
01-07 Woodburner Dalston Curve Garden (UK)
05.07 Afrika Hertme Fest (NL)
06.07 Amsterdam Roots Festival Amsterdam (NL)
09.07 Festival du Péristyle Lyon (FR/69)
10.07 Festival du Péristyle Lyon (FR/69)
11.07 Jazz à Vienne Vienne (FR/38)
13.07 Festival Oley Africa Crest (FR/26)
15.07 Staccato Miramont-de-Guyenne (FR/47) TBC
16.07 Guinguette Chez Alriq Bordeaux (FR/33)
17.07 Le Monde dans Mon Village Hautefort (FR / 24)
18.07 Festival Lez'Arts Verts Saint-Etienne-de-Fursac (FR/23)
19.07 Le Bâteau Ivre Tours (FR/37)
20.07 Fest Les Intemporelles Argentons-sur-Creuse (FR/36)
22.07 Café Théodore Trédrez-Locqueneaux (FR/22)
23.07 Festival Arré Voce Abbaye du Relec (FR/29)
24.07 Les Terrasses du Jeudi Rouen (FR/76)
25.07 Esperanzah! Festival Floreffe (BE)
26.07 Festival de Lournand (71)
30.07 Guinguette au Parc Lons-le-Saunier (39)
01.08 Anciant Trance Leipzig (DE)
02.08 Good Vibration Society Ashdown (UK)
03.08 Good Vibration Society Ashdown (UK)
13.08 The Bell In Bath (UK)
15.08 Purbeck Valley Folk Festival Warham (UK)
16.08 Beautiful Days Festival Ottery St-Mary (UK)
17.08 Green Man Festival Crickhowell (UK)
20.08 The Fox & Firkin London (UK)
24.08 Shambala Festival (UK)
26.08 Busker Festival Lucern (CH)
27.08 Busker Festival Lucern (CH)
28.08 Busker Festival Lucern (CH)
29.08 Busker Festival Lucern (CH)
30.08 Busker Festival Lucern (CH)
31.08 Busker Festival Lucern (CH)
Booking Info
Thibault +33 6 60 68 26 08
2 musicians + 1 tour manager, Need a sound engineer on site. Lilongwe, Malawi. Available July & August 2025
Yosefe Kalekeni - Banjo from Malawi, drum, voice
Yobu Malingwa - Babatone, voice